Spinal Research

Spinal Research

Current Research: Do you have pain in your lower back? If you do, you can earn up to $400 for your time! Primary Spine Care has been selected as a clinical site for a study funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) entitled, “Efficient and Cost-Effective Multimodal System for Pain Management in Low Back”. The aim of this research study is to help doctors learn more about the evaluation of pain relating to the lower back (LBP). The goal is to examine pain sensitivity among adults with LBP to determine a more objective way of measuring pain intensity.

If you are interested in participating in this research study, please contact Primary Spine Care at 724-443-8444 to schedule an appointment to determine if you are eligible. You are not required to be a patient of Primary Spine Care to participate in the study, although you have the option to become a patient for the treatment of your lower back pain.

General: Primary Spine Care is a patient-centered, evidence-based chiropractic and physical therapy facility. We incorporate the latest technology and research in our treatment plans to obtain the maximum medical improvement for our patients in the shortest amount of time.

Chiropractic research covers a wide range of topics, including the efficacy of chiropractic adjustments for various spinal conditions, the safety of chiropractic care, and comparisons of chiropractic treatment with other forms of spinal care.

Here are a few key points from chiropractic research related to the spine:

1. Effectiveness for Low Back Pain: Numerous studies have investigated the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments for treating low back pain. Research suggests that spinal manipulation, commonly performed by chiropractors, can provide relief for acute and chronic low back pain, often with fewer side effects compared to medications or surgery.

2. Safety of Spinal Manipulation: While spinal manipulation is generally considered safe when performed by trained professionals, research has also examined the safety aspects. Studies have found that serious adverse events from spinal manipulation are rare, but it is essential for chiropractors to assess patient suitability and employ appropriate techniques.

3. Comparative Studies: Some research has compared chiropractic care with other forms of treatment for spinal conditions. For example, studies have looked at the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments compared to physical therapy, medication, or surgery for conditions like low back pain, neck pain, and spinal disorders.

4. Long-term Outcomes: Research exploring the long-term effects of chiropractic care on spinal health is ongoing. Longitudinal studies aim to understand how chiropractic adjustments may influence the progression of spinal conditions over time and whether they can help prevent future issues.

5. Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life: Research has also examined patient satisfaction and quality of life outcomes following chiropractic care for spinal conditions. Many studies have reported high levels of satisfaction among chiropractic patients, with improvements in pain levels, function, and overall well-being.

Dr. Kris Gongaware and Primary Spine Care have participated in numerous research studies, and continue to participate with renown institutions that contribute to science for patient benefit.

Dr. Kris Gongaware - Contributions to Science (collaborations on funded research projects):

University of Pittsburgh

• Comparative Clinical Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Treatment Methods in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30646197/)
• Biomarkers in patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
• Patients' experience with nonsurgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis: a qualitative study (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28870836/)
• Intervertebral kinematics of the cervical spine before, during, and after high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30142458/)
  University of Minnesota/University of Pittsburgh 
• Spinal Manipulation and Patient Self-Management for Preventing Acute to Chronic Back Pain (PACBACK) (https://pacback.org/index.html) (ongoing)
  Carnegie Mellon University
• Efficient and Cost-Effective Multimodal System for Pain Management in Low Back Pain (present)

If you have any questions concerning these chiropractic research studies, please contact Dr. Gongaware at Primary Spine Care to discuss.